America Divided Over VietnamAmerica Divided Over Vietnam

How are Americans split over the Vietnam War?

VC tough to fight, had elaborate system of underground tunnels

P 738 - 1. How did you enter a VC tunnel? 2. What was found inside the tunnels? 3) How could they defend from attacks?

To destroy VC tunnels US starts using Napalm & Agent Orange (Napalm burns trees, AO is chemical defoliant)

War of Attrition

• 300,000 troops in Vietnam by 1967, SV citizens hate US soldiers due to search & destroy, US troop morale sinking

http://www.history.com/videos/history-rocks-vietnam-soldier#tet-offensive-surprises-americans

The Anti-War MovementCongress begins a draft lottery begins for all 18-26 year old males

Anti-war movement begins, the “New Left” is gaining a voice

1. Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), use civil disobedience

2. Free Speech Movement (FSM) UC Berkeley – used sit-ins

Colleges try to stop protests on campus, more people join

1967: Public opinion poll find most American disagree w/ war, nation divided: hawks support war, doves against war

Boxing champion Muhammad Ali refuses induction into military, citing personal & religious reasons

“I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong”

Tet OffensiveLBJ & Westmoreland assure public victory is in sight

1967: Secy of Defense Robert McNamara resigns

Televising the war & cutting Great Society programs is creating a credibility gap w/ Johnson Admin.

1968: Turning point in war is when N. Vietnamese & VC attack during Tet Offensive, reach US embassy in Saigon

March 1968: LBJ decides not to seek re-electionhttp://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history/

videos/tet-offensive

VQ: Why is Tet a turning point in the war?